Water aerobics is no longer an exercise for senior citizens. It’s a perfect exercise for anyone at any age. It’s a great way to get in shape in a fun and friendly environment. Yes, water aerobics is low impact and therefore a big help to those who have been sedentary or are getting older or suffer from arthritis or other diseases. But there is so much more to gain from exercising in the water.
The resistance of the water against the body is about 10:1 and so increases the efficiency and results of the exercise. Here are some comparisons between land and water exercise:
- Land walking: 135 calories
- Deep water walking: 264 calories
- Jogging on land: 240 calories
- Deep water jogging: 340 calories
Water causes your body to be buoyant, thus causing less stress on your joints and muscles. Water aerobics is a non-weight bearing exercise where water, instead of your lower extremities, supports your weight.
The action of kicking your legs and using your hands to cup the water helps contribute to muscle development, which increases your metabolism and promotes a healthier body. Many water aerobics classes incorporate equipment like water paddles, noodles, single or double buoys, and kickboards to further induce strength gains.
Whether you exercise in the water at an outdoor pool or at a gym or the Y, jump right in and make a splash. You’ll have fun, make new friends, lose some weight, gain some lung power, and whittle down your waist – What a W!
Water aerobics is a great way to get fit, especially if you have joint problems or are seriously overweight and find regular forms of exercise too dificult. As a chiropractor, I recommend swimming and water aerobics regularly to my clients as it is so effective without the strain to joints.
Thank you – me too! I think water aerobics is great for all ages for natural health. They use water aerobics to train Olympic athletes now as the resistance of the water allows for longer workouts with less stress. And horses are trained in the water too!